Benvenuto in Italia Tony! The dirt is awesome, come roll in it!

Chapter 5: All-Night Vigil (Vespers), Op. 37- 1915

Landing was rough, but no more so than Tony was expecting considering the flying bucket they were in. At this point the nervous energy was washing over all of the girls once again, and even though the men tried to hide it, them as well. It created a strange tense atmosphere in the hanger. For both parties it was mostly the unknown of what tomorrow may bring, and if everyone was human that cold ball of dread weighed heavily in the pit of their stomach. Cadwallader had procured himself a bowler hat and was unbuckling all the cargo nets holding the soldiers luggage and the men collectively started to gather their possessions and migrate towards the loading deck waiting for the ramp to release. Tony took initiative and started doing the same, giving a strained smile to each of the ladies as he handed them their stuff. Voices and large engines could be heard on the other side of the plane and the distinctive sound of latches releasing echoed in the hull.

"Here Tony" Mary chirped breaking the silence, grabbed his duffle "Ill carry this so you'll be able to carry your instruments!" raising an eyebrow he easily relinquished his hold on said bag. Scratching his cheek he cringed at the substantial stubble growing on it.

Ew, I probably look like a hot mess.

Cold air suddenly poured into the plane as the ramp finally lowered down, the girls instantly dropped their stuff and pulled out winter coats to shuffle into. Tony however knew he had nothing of the sort decided to walk a head and take a look at where they were. When he passed onto the ramp and out of the plane he struggled to breath for a few seconds. One, because Jesus shit its chilly and his lungs contracted at the temperature difference and two, here he was standing in Italy in the middle of the war. Its official, there was no denying what he was seeing.

Men in uniform where everywhere, some running between trucks as others started to swarm the plane to get supplies unloaded. Few shot Tony a look but seeing as he was not in uniform quickly turned their attention back to the tasks they were preforming. Orders where being shouted around the area making it almost impossible to pin point where each commanding officer was. A cold gust blew through and Tony tucked his arms firmly against his side, instrument cases digging into his legs, trying to retain some body heat but refusing to huddle into himself. He could feel the strange familiar tightness in his chest and lungs as they slowly adjusted to the temperature. There was a reason why he stayed in Malibu during the winter, his lungs couldn't handle the cold of NY constantly.

He fully walked off the ramp and stepped to the side out of the way, feet sinking in the inch of mud that was everywhere. It seemed that they landed in an old country farm that had been transformed into a runway. Some of the tree's already started to drop their leaves, seeing as how cold it was in October, and Tony fortified himself with the knowledge that this winter was going to be long and miserable. Smoke could be seen to the north, black and curling. To the east where the road leads seems to be some abandoned houses, one with the roof caved in.

A man with a lot of glittering medals pinned to his chest separated himself from the pack of canopied trucks and, clip board in hand, started marching towards the plane. Once again Tony did not go unnoticed as the guy sneered at him in passing. Tony resisted the urge to flip him off and sneer back.

"Men!" the guy barked, drawing the attention to any of the men who hadn't seen him coming "I will read your name, when called you will be given your paperwork. On that paperwork will be your division and commanding officer." He grunted and pointed behind him where the trucks where "Find em, and load up! Mathews, Daniel!" the young guy that chucked in the plane shuffled forward and Tony physically turned away from watching, jumping slightly at the site of another body standing right behind him.

"You Anthony Edward?"

"That's me." Beady eyes roam his form and linger at the two cases in his hands. Pulling a clip board from thin air (Honest to god, Tony had no idea where he had that thing!) he read off his information pausing at the bottom.

"Please tell me that a violin is in one of those cases, or at least a fiddle. A Piano will be available at most locations." the guy paused and shot tony another searching look, and acquired a pinched expression "Can you actually play both or did you lie just for the money?"

"Uh, Nope I can play, and it's a Violin" Tony said trying to gauge the guys attitude. His voice sounded like he was desperate for a musician but his body screamed 'I Don't give a fuck'. The other sighed sagging his shoulders slightly and tucked the board into his armpit offering Tony his hand.

"Great to have you. Names Thomas and I'll be the companies manager till we meet up with the others and Jim will take over." Shuffling one of the cases to his other arm, because there was no way he was putting his babies in the mud, Tony quickly shook his hand.

"Anthony, but call me Tony"

"Nice to meet you Tony, even though its in a shit location." The guy finally gave him a grin and dropped his hand looking around. Finding what he wanted he pointed out a truck to the far left of the convoy. "That's ours. Load up and I'll get the ladies and we can head into town and out of this weather. Ill explain some things on the way there" Looking at Tony he waited till he nodded in understanding before heading to the ramp to get the girls.

Here it goes, now or never Stark. Taking a large breath and fighting the cough that wanted escape, and tugging the end of his black vest down in attempt to better his appearance, Tony gave himself a sharp nod and left the relative safety of the landed flying bucket.

Crossing the area to the truck was simple enough. Most men were already standing near their own vehicles or helping load up supplies, leaving the main area clear. It was once he got to the truck and slid the cases underneath the sitting bench in the cab that things went south for one Anthony Edwards.

"You must be a special kind of pussy to join the pleaser crew" was harshly hissed at him.

And any control that Tony might have convinced himself he had flew right out of the god-damned window. Whirling around it was easy to tell which one had spoke out of the three men leaning against the side of the nearby truck. He was like a Disney villain version of Captain America, dirty blond hair shaved short on the sides and everything. The guy was buff, maybe a little bit over six foot, but the nasty sneer and scar running down the left side of his face made the figure even more intimidating.

But Tony didn't care. "The fuck you just call us!?" the nasty sneer shifted into a smirk and Mr. Muscle pushed himself off of the truck and took a step towards him, goons falling in place behind his shoulders.

"I cant believe it boys, looks like he might actually have a spine!" he cried, the other two thugs chuckled behind him. "Everyone knows that the U.S.O ladies are here to…Entertain us. They volunteered."

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Tony gave the other his own sneer taking a few steps away from the truck "You are disgusting. I'm surprised any lady within her right mind would get anywhere near your kind of stupid." Leaning over to the side slightly to see the other two men, wanting to make it clear he was talking to them, he continued. "But I don't know. Seems stupid might be an infectious disease around here."

"Excuse me!" big and bulky shouted uncrossing his arms, drawing some attention now to their area. Tony snorted and glanced down his nose at the other.

"Your excused. Now go fuck off and leave the girls alone." And looking back on it, yah it was pretty dumb of him to turn around and start back to the truck to load up. Even more so since he usually never liked having people standing in an area he couldn't see because you never knew just what the other could do.

His fear was harshly confirmed, once again.

A cold hand gripped into his hair and yanked down, pulling his head and back backwards and into the soggy ground. Crying out briefly at the surprise attack and sharp pain from his scalp, Tony gripped the wrist of the hand now dragging his body half off the ground via his hair, trying to take the pressure off of it. He could vaguely hear one of the girls crying his name and some men shouting in the distance.

"What was that you little shit" Mr. Muscles growled, shaking the arm holding his head around like a dog with a new toy. Letting go of the wrist Tony reached up blindly grabbing the mans uniform front in a firm grip and scrambled to get his feet firmly placed in the slick ground.

"I said-" he repeated between clenched teeth, arching his back and kicking off of the ground while pulling the other down. He winced slightly when his hair was released along with some of the stands and used the momentum to wrap one leg around the others torso and the other under his arm and twist around the large idiot as he landed face first in the mud with Tony now kneeling in his center back. The arm that was in his hair wrenched behind the others back in his firm hold. "Your excused"

"Break it up!" someone shouted now nearby as hands wrenched Tony up and pushed him away from the other. "Break it up!"

Goon 1 and 2 where helping up their fallen leader. Said man was glaring bloody murder at Tony threw the layer of mud on his face. Sniffing disdainfully once again at him, he turned and tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of his muddy wet back of his vest, shirt, and pants.

"Tony!" Mary cried running up to him. Tony eyes flickered to the flash of red hair behind her and spotted Cadwallader, tipping his hat in his direction as he jumped in the back of one of the trucks.

Huh

Warm hands grabbed his face and he was forced to look at the worried blond. "Oh Hun, you alright? I'm happy that you were able to one up him put that pull looked like it hurt." Tony patted her hand on his cheek and pulled back, helping her up into the truck with a grin.

"Yah Mary I'm good. A little yank of the hair isn't going to put me down." Shooting him a doubtful look she shuffled further into the back. A Tap at his shoulder drew his attention to Rosie who was lifting her hand in the air in clear demand to be helped up as well. Chuckling Tony did and with an exasperated huff helped the others as well.

When Thomas came he gave Tony a sharp look. "You going to be trouble?" squaring his shoulders Tony looked straight at him, and lowering his voice so the girls hopefully won't hear him.

"Not unless others want to imply that our company is a traveling whore house."

Thomas hissed glaring at the location the men left in, hands balling into fist at his side. "Those assholes." Turning he glanced into the truck where they ladies where talking, tony noticing that Rosie was watching them with a keen eye. "You know if they brought anything?" the man murmured. Tony twitched slightly in surprise and Thomas must have noticed and continued "It's their choice what to do, but if things go to pot, or we are under attack, I cant be everywhere at once."

Another wind blew and a shiver racked up Tony's back as his damp clothing made it feel cooler. Tilting his head to the truck he spoke up "Yah, there good. Not much knowledge on the subject but we set up a plan on the plane"

Thomas's guarded look fell slightly as he smiled "Good to er' " Turning he crawled up the back of the truck and settled at the end of the left bench, patting Tony on the shoulder as he passed. Sighing to himself, Tony heaved himself up and sat heavily next to Rosie on the right end of the bench. The Truck rumbled as it started and the tail gate was slammed shut by two men. After a few seconds and a solid slap to the side of the truck by one of the guys they all learch sideways as the vehicle started to lumber away from the plane.

As the scenery shifted and the mud started to dry on Tony's back and legs he watched as tree's passed by and the farm houses disappear. One thought Ringing in his mind.

Benvenuto in Italia-welcome to Italy

Thanks for reading this far! :) Also, I don't speak any Italian. If you do, I am so sorry, I'm relying heavily on Google on that front. Next chapter is looooonggg~ so look forward to that.

Hope y'all have a good halloween!

P.S Daddy FF has a bug going on and I have no info coming in to the account. I was confused at first that the chapters of this and one other story didn't post but my friend was able to see them and left a comment. However on my side it has 0 for all stats, no comment, and no notification emails. Ive looked it up, and it seems to have happened before to others and everyone says you have to just wait it out.

So in the meantime, Ya'll are ghost readers! ooooooooOOOOoooo

Its a bit weird since it feels like Im writing to the void, but Im trusting Ya'll are there :)